Portable grill stand

ABSTRACT

A portable grill stand formed from a single piece of folded and partially glued material has four side panels, each of which intersects in a leg portion, and all interfitting to form a generally isosceles trapezoidal cross-section. The upper edge portion of the stand is proportioned to receive and support a pan with an overlying grid portion having self-contained ignitable cooking material such as charcoal held in place by wax. Portholes are provided in the side panels to provide for cooling, and a large aperture is provided in the base of the stand for cooling purposes. In addition, the longitudinal edges of the side panels are scalloped to provide for point contact and maximum cooling along the support. The lower portion of the side panels are reversely folded to define a double thickness, and the end portions are duplicated to define a double thickness at the four corner legs. Double thickness is further defined at the upper edge of the end panels where they are reversely folded inwardly and interlocked by means of a flap engaging a crescent-shaped slot.

United States Patent [191 Sellers Oct. 15, 1974 PORTABLE GRILL STAND [75] Inventor: Thomas J. Sellors, Waukegan, L

[73] Assignee: Potlatch Corporation, San

Francisco, Calif.

[22] Filed: Jan. 2, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 429,906

Primary Examiner-Edward G. Favors Attorney, Agent, or FirmDominik, Knechtel, Godula & Demeur 5 7 ABSTRACT A portable grill stand formed from a single piece of folded and partially glued material has four side panels, each of which intersects in a leg portion, and all interfitting to form a generally isosceles trapezoidal cross-section. The upper edge portion of the stand is proportioned to receive and support a pan with an overlying grid portion having self-contained ignitable cooking material such as charcoal held in place by wax. Portholes are provided in the side panels to provide for cooling, and a large aperture is provided in the base of the stand for cooling purposes. ln addition, the longitudinal edges of the side panels are scalloped to provide for point contact and maximum cooling along the support. The lower portion of the side panels are reversely folded to define a double thickness, and the end portions are duplicated to define a double thickness at the four corner legs. Double thickness is further defined at the upper edge of the end panels where they are reversely folded inwardly and interlocked by means of a flap engaging a crescent-shaped slot.

9 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures PATENTEDBBI 1 saw FIG. 5

PORTABLE GRILL STAND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION.

1; Field of Invention The invention relates generally to a portable grill stand, and more particularly that type of stand which is inexpensive, and of a throw away nature. More specifically, the stand is formed of a laminated chip board material, but because of its configuration, is not only strong in use, but cool in operation. The same configuration may be used with other materials.

2. Description of the Prior Art The prior art abounds with charcoal grills of the portable type. Generally speaking, they contain a pan of some sort in which the charcoal is rested and ignites, and a grill or grid thereabove upon which foodstuffs are positioned for broiling. The present invention deals with a stand for such a unit as disclosed generally in US. Pat. No. 3,353,527 in which there is disclosed a pan and its contained charcoal, but no practical means for supporting the same off of a surface for convenient cooking, Other grill stands are known in which a wire receptacle is provided which sets atop the ground, or

a plurality of legs which also support the grill. None of these constructions, however, are of assistance in merchandising the grill by permitting the stacking of the same. Furthermore, many of them even though fashioned out of metal, are somewhat flimsy in their support function.

SUMMARY The present invention relates to a portable and generally disposable grill stand. Its principal utility is in connection with a generally rectangular preferably metal pan which contains charcoal prepared for igniting, and a grid thereatop. The grill, however, may have other means for heating, and other means for covering, and is generally acceptable to and supportable in the stand so long as its edges are substantially rectilinear. The stand is formed from a single piece of material, preferably a chip board laminated with a metalized surface; but the same configuration could be formed out of metal or other materials, and could also be molded from plastic. The stand has a base with a large aperture for ventilating and cooling, opposed side panels, and opposed end panels each of which preferably is provided with portholes for ventilating and cooling, and the upper edge portion may be scalloped to provide for additional cooling and point contact of the pan. The stand is characterized by a general isosceles trapezoidal cross-sectional configuration which not only imparts strength, but renders the same nestably stackable for display in a store. Provision is made for double thickness of the material at the four corners where support legs are provided, and also a double thickness for the end panel members by means of a mounting strip at the end of the reversely folded portion which is engaged by a crescent-shaped cutout in the base.

One of the principal objects of the present invention is to provide the construction of a portable, lightweight, disposable grill stand which remains inherently cool in operation.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a nestable, stackable portable grill stand which has the strength to permit several to be stacked for store displays, or in home where several may be stored for potential usage or in any other location where maximum compactness is desired.

A more specific object of the present invention is to provide a portable grill stand with a plurality of vents and other functionable features which permit the natural convected currents of the air maintain the same cool, despite the close proximity of the glowing embers contained in the metal pan of the grill portion.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a portable, disposable grill stand which may be formed from a single sheet of material, and wherein the scrap loss inherent in its construction is less than 15 percent of the raw material employed.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a band for the subject portable grill stand which will secure a grill, its grid cover, and prepared charcoal ready for igniting together as a single package for store display, and subsequent use by the outdoorsman.

DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE DRAWINGS Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the following description of an illustrative embodiment proceeds taken in conjunction with the attached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portable grill utilizing the portable grill stand illustrative of the present invention showing the same on a typical patio broiling hamburgers.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the portable grill with its display band in place as it might appear on a store shelf.

FIG. 3 illustrates a stack of seven such portable grills indicating the nestable capability of the structure for store display or warehousing.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the principal elements of theportable grill omitting the charcoal or combustible material.

FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken along a longitudinal axis of the assembled portable grill.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the blank from which the portable grill is formed.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a blank from which the display band for the portable grill is formed.

FIG. 8 is a perspective partially folded view of the portable grill stand illustrating the sequential steps of folding the same into its final configuration.

FIG. 9 is a further sequential view of a corner of the portable grill stand illustrating how the end members are sequentially folded.

FIG. 10 is a further perspective partially broken view illustrating the portable grill stand immediately prior to closing the end panels to complete the assembly.

FIG. 11 is a perspective partially diagrammatic view illustrating the sequential steps of completing the assembly of the display band.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIG. 1 of the drawings, it will be seen that the portable grill 1 includes a portable grill stand 10, atop which a grid appears. The grid 2, as shown in FIG. 4, is secured to the upper portion of a pan 3, and a combustible material is contained therein as illustrated in cross section in FIG. 5. For convenient commercial usage, the combustible material is a charcoal briquet 4, and as shown in FIG. 5, the same is encased in what appears like an egg carton or igniter support 5. Turning back to FIG. 1, it will be seen that the portable grill 1 is positioned on a typical patio 6, although the same may also be used on a noncombustible table 7, such as illustrated in FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 1, after the charcoal briquets 4 are ignited, hamburgers 8 as shown, or hot dogs, bratwurst, steaks, or other foodstuffs may be broiled atop the grid 2. To assist in igniting the charcoal briquets 4, not only is the igniter support combustible, but the charcoal briquets 4 may be coated with an igniter coating 9, such as wax which serves the two-fold purpose of being combustible, and also securing the charcoal briquets 4 in place against dislodgement, breakage, and the like. The present invention is directed primarily to the support, and not to the pan 3 and grid 2. A pan and grid assembly such as shown in US. Pat. No. 3,353,527 may also be employed with the support illustrative of the present invention.

The portable grill stand itself is shown in its sequential relationship to the grid 2 and pan 3 essentially in FIG. 4. There it will be seen that the portable grill stand 10 is elevated atop four legs 15. A flue 50 is provided in the interior portion of the grill stand 10 as shown in FIG. 4, and cooperates with the scalloped edge 35 of the. side panels 22 to promote cool operation, good combustion, and sturdy support of the grid and pan, 2, 3.

One of the significant advantages of the portable grill stand 10 is its ability to nestably stack a plurality of portable grills 1, as shown in FIG. 3 where some seven such units are stacked atop each other. This is not only a highly desirable application of the stack 16, for purposes of store display where the graphics appear atop the display band 40 on the top of the stack 16, but also permits the homeowner who wishes to store three or four such portable grills l to do so in a convenient corner of the garage, recreation room, or basement. Similarly, if two or more of the portable grills l are being taken on a trip in the trunk of a car, the stack 16 will be not as high, but nonetheless a space-saving advantage.

For a more specific description of the elements of the portable grill stand 10, reference should next be had to FIG. 6 where a stand blank 20 is shown. The center portion of the stand blank 20 is a reinforcing flue 21 with a circular (or rectangular) cutout in the center portion to permit free passage of air up and around the pan 3 which, when the charcoal briquets 4 are ignited, obviously is the hottest portion of the unit; and since the stand blank 20 and the portable grill stand 10 is made out of paper board covered with one surface being metalized, rendering the portable grill stand 10 as cool as possible is an important factor in operation.

As will be observed, an outer end panel 23 adjoins the reinforcing flue 21 at both ends, preferably by a crease line between the two. Further outboard of the outer end panel 23 is an inner end panel 24 terminating in a locking lip 30. The locking lip engages the locking lip slot 31 and locking tab 32 of the reinforcing flue 21 when the unit is assembled.

The stand blank 20, at its side portions, includes side panels 22, which are also joined by a fold line at their lower portions of the side panel base 26 to the reinforcing flue 21. Opposed side panel end tabs 25 are joined by means of fold lines at the ends of the two side panels 22.

In order to define the legs 15, it will be seen that the lower portion of the side panel 22 terminates in a side panel leg 37, and is positioned for folding against the side panel base legs 39. A further double thickness of the legs 15 is provided by means of the end tab leg pieces 28, and the side panel leg piece 27. When the unit is folded into its final configuration as will be seen when the structure in FIGS. 8 through 10 are discussed, the flue corner pieces 29 coact with the end panels 23, 24, to secure the corners above the legs 15. In all instances, the raw board is coordinated to contact raw board so that glueing will take place, and yet the exterior configuration will be the metalized portion of the board or the reverse side of the stand blank 20 as shown in FIG. 6.

The display band 40 is formed from a blank as illustrated in FIG. 7. There it will be seen that the display band 40 includes a top 41, such as the upper portion of FIG. 3 where graphics may be employed, and ends 42, terminating in a tab bottom 44. One of the tab bottoms 44 has a tab or barb extending therefrom (see the left hand portion of FIG. 7) and the other tab bottom 44 has a slot 47 into which the tab is inserted when the display band 40 is wrapped around the portable grill 1. Also to be noted in FIG. 6 is the scalloped upper edge 35 of the side panels 22 for promoting cooling. In addition, ventilation is provided by means of the end vents 36, and side vents 38. As shown, when the unit is assembled, there is a single vent 36 on each end and three vents 38 on the opposed sides.

In order to assemble the stand 10, it will be seen that the sides 22 are first folded centrally toward each other, generally as shown in FIG. 8. The ends formed of end panels 23, 24 are erected thereafter. The legs 15, however, are glued by means of adhesive securing both the side panel leg portions 37 and the side panel base leg portions 39 in face-to-face relationship, and thereafter glueing the side panel base leg piece 27 to the end tab leg piece 28. This insures a double thickness which comprises each of the legs 15. As shown in FIG. 9, after the sides are erected, and the side panel 22 is in position, the flue corner pieces 29 are then turned upwardly. After the flue corner piece 29 is turned upwardly, the side panel end tabs 25 are folded inwardly as illustrated by the arrow in FIG. 9. Thereafter, as illustrated in FIG. 10, the outer end panel 23 is Placed into the upright position, and then the inner end panel 24 turned inwardly, the construction finally being secured by positioning the locking lip 30 of the inner end panel 24 beneath the locking tab 32 and in the slot 31. The portable grill stand 10, is thus secured in its assembled relationship after the end panels 23, 24 are positioned as shown diagrammatically and sequentially in FIG. 10. It will be appreciated, as shown in the left hand portion of FIG. 10, that the flue corner piece 29 adds additional rigidity to the four corners by being positioned between the inner end panel 24 and the outer end panel 23, and more specifically, immediately inwardly of the side panel end tabs 25. Thus, there is a four ply thickness of material to reinforce each of the corners.

After the portable grill stand 10 is assembled essentially as shown in FIG. 10, and specifically as shown in the lower portion of FIG. 4, the combination of the grid 2 and pan 3 are inserted into position, as shown in the used configuration in FIG. 1, and in cross-section in FIG. 5. The display band 40 is then assembled on an end-to-end basis around the portable grill stand and completed portable grill 1. The sequential steps in folding the display panel are shown diagrammatically in FIG. 11, but in the inverted configuration. In normal usage, the tab 45 will engage the locking slot 47, beneath the pan 3 of the portable grill 1.

In review, it will be appreciated that a portablegrill stand 10 has been disclosed and described which may be readily fabricated out of chip board, preferably with an outer metalized liner. Nevertheless, because of the flue; and in part because of the scalloped edge 35 of the sides 22, sufficient cooling is provided that the metalized surface may not be essential. Furthermore, rather than laminating a metalized surface, it is contemplated that the same may be sprayed onto the support. In addition, while somewhat more expensive, it will be apparent that the portable grill stand 10 could be formed out of folded aluminum, or other materials.

Although particular embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in full here, there is no intention to thereby limit the invention to the details of such embodiments. On the contrary, the invention is to cover all modifications, alternatives, embodiments, usages and equivalents of a portable grill stand as fall within the spirit and scope of the invention, specification and the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A portable grill stand comprising, in combination,

- a panel formed with a reinforcing flue, opposed end walls, and opposed side walls,

- each of said elements being separated by fold lines therebetween,

- four legs provided at the four intersections of the respective end panels and side panels,

- the stand being characterized by isosceles trapezoidal configuration in both the end panel construction and side panel construction,

whereby a plurality may be nested, and additional strength imparted to the stand as a result of the isosceles trapezoidal configuration.

2. In the portable grill stand of claim 1 above,

- said end panels having a reversely folded double thickness,

a flap bendably running along the end of the reversed fold of said end panels,

- and cutout means in the reinforcing flue for lockingly and wedgingly engaging the reversely folded end panel by means of its edged portion.

3. In the portable grill stand of claim 1 above,

- an aperture provided in the reinforcing flue having an opening with a larger cross-section that the area of the opening defined by the side walls and end panels.

4. In the portable grill stand of claim 1,

- at least one aperture provided in each of said side panels and end panels.

5. In the portable grill stand of claim 1,

- at least one pair of upper edges of said side panels or end panels having a scalloped edge thereby providing a point contact with the grill to be inserted therein.

6. In the portable grill stand of claim 1,

- said side panels having a plurality of vent ports,

- said end panels having at least one vent port,

- and said side panels terminating in a scalloped upper edge thereby providing point contact for the support of the grill member.

7. In the portable grill stand of claim 1,

- reversely folded and overlapping members defining the leg portion of said stand.

8. In the portable grill stand of claim 7 above,

- reversely folded portions defining that portion of the side panels extending beneath the base.

9. For use in supporting a cooking element comprising a pan, cooling fuel within the pan, a grill atop the pan, the pan being bounded at its upper edge by a rectilinear rim, the improvement comprising, in combination,

- a stand,

- said stand being formed from a panel having a reinforcing flue, opposed end walls, and opposed side walls,

- each of said reinforcing flue, opposed end walls, and opposed side walls being separated by fold lines therebetween, and,

- four legs extending downwardly from the four intersections of the respective end panels and side panels, each of said panels, by virtue of the position and orientation' of its fold line with the adjacent panel, contributing to define a portable grill stand with an isosceles trapezoidal cross sectional configuration along both its longitudinal axis as well as its lateral axis,

whereby a plurality of such stands, including the grid and pan, may be stacked atop each other. 

1. A portable grill stand comprising, in combination, - a panel formed with a reinforcing flue, opposed end walls, and opposed side walls, - each of said elements being separated by fold lines therebetween, - four legs provided at the four intersections of the respective end panels and side panels, - the stand being characterized by isosceles trapezoidal configuration in both the end panel construction and side panel construction, whereby a plurality may be nested, and additional strength imparted to the stand as a result of the isosceles trapezoidal configuration.
 2. In the portable grill stand of claim 1 above, - said end panels having a reversely folded double thickness, - a flap bendably running along the end of the reversed fold of said end panels, - and cutout means in the reinforcing flue for lockingly and wedgingly engaging the reversely folded end panel by means of its edged portion.
 3. In the portable grill stand of claim 1 above, - an aperture provided in the reinforcing flue having an opening with a larger cross-section that the area of the opening defined by the side walls and end panels.
 4. In the portable grill stand of claim 1, - at least one aperture provided in each of said side panels and end panels.
 5. In the portable grill stand of claim 1, - at least one pair of upper edges of said side panels or end panels having a scalloped edge thereby providing a point contact with the grill to be inserted therein.
 6. In the portable grill stand of claim 1, - said side panels having a plurality of vent ports, - said end panels having at least one vent port, - and said side panels terminating in a scalloped upper edge thereby providing point contact for the support of the grill member.
 7. In the portable grill stand of claim 1, - reversely folded and overlapping members defining the leg portion of said stand.
 8. In the portable grill stand of claim 7 above, - reversely folded portions defining that portion of the side panels extending beneath the base.
 9. For use in supporting a cooking element comprising a pan, cooling fuel within the pan, a grill atop the pan, the pan being bounded at its upper edge by a rectilinear rim, the improvement comprising, in combination, - a stand, - said stand being formed from a panel having a reinforcing flue, opposed end walls, and opposed side walls, - each of said reinforcing flue, opposed end walls, and opposed side walls being separated by fold lines therebetween, and, - four legs extending downwardly from the four intersections of the respective end panels and side panels, each of said panels, by virtue of the position and orientation of its fold line with the adjacent panel, contributing to define a portable grill stand with an isosceles trapezoidal cross sectional configuration along both its longitudinal axis as well as its lateral axis, whereby a plurality of such stands, including the grid and pan, may be stacked atop each other. 